Spring Break
After months of prolonged darkness, cold, snow, rain and generally unpleasant conditions, we are approaching many angler’s favorite time of the year; Spring! As we near the start of the new rebirth cycle we have a lot to look forward to as outdoorsmen. Temperatures are climbing, the daffodils are blooming and the trout are starting to look up! Finally some flies other than microscopic midges are starting to rise to the top of the water column causing our fishy friends to pay attention. In North Georgia and Western North Carolina, black and tan caddis have started emerging on some of the warmer days. This has led to some excellent dry dropper fishing when the conditions align in your favor.
This time of year is all about timing. Ideally, you can observe the weather, pick a warm day with higher than average night time temperatures and possibly even preceding an incoming storm. Whenever possible, it is always better to fish before a system than after it! Before, the water is typically warmer and there is a nearly palpable excitement in the air and water. Fish are feeding hoping to catch some easy meals of newly emerging insects and, as waters rise with the increased flows, displaced forage like shiners, sculpins and crayfish. However, after the storms move through a sharp drop in temperature often follows putting fish into an awkward mood. The day or two after a large storm front usually means high pressure, low temperatures, blue bird skies and spooked fish. Remember, it’s all about timing! Pick your battles and watch for the better days. If the week features highs in the mid 50’s and lows around freezing, pick the day with the highest low temperature. This will keep the water a little warmer throughout the day and can make the difference between a fine day’s fishing and a great one.
The Blue lines are starting to wake up in the Southern Appalachians and the intrepid angler can start to make hay while the sun shines. We have been using small black caddis dries to suspend small jigs and midges lately to great effect. Just this week I fished a nearby, high altitude freestone with my 1 weight and the flies I described above. In about two hours of fishing I landed ten rainbows, half on the dry and half on a purple zebra midge! This tells me that the fish are not really specifically keyed into a specific hatch yet but are feeding in a more opportunistic way. I almost exclusively fish these small streams in chacos and shorts and this was the first wet wading experience this year that didn’t sting too much! Water temperatures are generally climbing up and starting to approach the all important 50 degree mark. Trout really start to wake up when the water hits 50 and anglers should take advantage of these first strong and consistent feeding days of the year. Look for hatches of caddis, both black and tan, early march browns, BWO’s and still some of the smaller midges. I will most often nymph or dry dropper these small tributaries this time of year but I will always carry a few streamers and larger nymphs to trigger some bites from larger fish too. Also, as rainbows near their spawning times over the next few weeks, pay special attention to their redds (nests) and take note of their vibrant spawning colors!
The larger trout waters in the Southeast are feeling the joys of the coming season as well! More consistent hatches of larger bugs and climbing temperatures also have these fish in a better mood than their previous sulky selves during the winter. The state and federal agencies responsible for stocking in our region further help this along by restarting the stocking of our area’s delayed harvest streams. Georgia and North Carolina started introducing new fish to their respective DH’s over the last couple of weeks and will continue to stock the water bodies hard through at least May. Float trips are becoming increasingly consistent and both good numbers and larger fish are being caught right now. Nymphing will boat the most fish but streamers and even a few dries to selective fish will help put some slime in the net!
Dock lights have hit their stride in North Georgia and the fish are hungry! Both size and quantity are available and a slam of striper, hybrids, largemouth and spotted bass is routinely a possibility. Herring are becoming a more common bait for these predatory fish and larger patterns are increasingly effective for triggering these larger fish to bite.
Migratory fish like white bass and walleye are starting their runs and can now be found in the streams and tributaries of many of our area’s reservoirs. While these fish are in shallower water they make for especially game targets on fly rods. Think swinging streamers in and around pools both above and below faster water where these fish might rest before making their next push upstream. Especially as storm flows cause the creeks to rise, these fish become increasingly accessible to wading anglers. Sink tip fly lines or poly leaders, clousers and weighted streamers in white and bright colors are the keys to the game for these fish. If you can find just one, more are nearby so be on the lookout and fish an area thoroughly!